State Police Report on Thanksgiving Shooting in Brown County

An Indiana State Police patch. / Photo: WCSI File

Indiana State Police detectives at the Bloomington Post continue to investigate a police action shooting that occurred Thanksgiving night in Brown County. On Monday evening, they released a report of where that investigation stands.

ISP Bloomington Public Information Officer Curt Durnil says that on that night, the Brown County Sheriff's Department received a tip that 44-year-old Troy Harden, of Nashville, was at a home on Annandale Drive. Harden had warrants for his arrest for probation violations out of Monroe County.

Brown County Sheriff's deputies, along with officials from the Nashville Town Marshal's Office, arrived at the home to serve the warrant. They were permitted into the home by the renter and located Harden there. According to the officers and the renter, Harden resisted arrest and told police to "kill him." Officers then saw that Harden was in possession of a black handgun. One officer deployed his taser; however Harden escaped through a window.

Officers pursued Harden through the adjoining woods and attempted to use their taser again. They continued to follow Harden through the woods and then onto Annandale Drive.

Officers were then able to make contact with Harden with a taser. Durnil says that immediately after Harden fell to the ground, officers said he distinctly pointed his gun directly at them. Those officers then fired on Harden, striking him twice. After the shooting, authorities immediately rendered first aid to Harden, who was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

ISP Crime Scene Investigators located Harden's handgun at the scene. The following day, investigators located components of a methamphetamine lab in Harden's truck, which was found at the home on Annandale Drive.

Witnesses told detectives that Harden knew there was a warrant for his arrest and that he was afraid of going to prison.

Brown County Prosecutor Jim Oliver said that he will review the investigation upon its completion.